Share this story

SAMMAMISH, Wash. -- The former vice principal who lost his job at Eastside Catholic High School last week disputes the school's position that he resigned after the archdiocese found out he was in a gay marriage.

"To set the record straight, I was terminated," Mark Zmuda said in an interview he gave to student Catrina Crittenden. KOMO News was granted one minute of that interview.

"When I was told, I asked why I was being terminated and they said because I violated Catholic teaching," Zmuda said in the interview. "I asked if it was breach of contract, they said no. I said if it had anything to do with my job performance or evaluations and they also said no."

Eastside Catholic attorney and spokesperson Mike Patterson said in a statement last week that Zmuda has violated a signed contract that states he would follow the official teachings of the church. Patterson maintains that gay marriage is against the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.